The 2022 Women Leaders In Technology: Ana Minter

Ana is a principal in RSM's data and digital services consulting practice based in Atlanta. She also serves as the national leader of the firm's digital point solutions practice providing clients with business-led technology-enabled transformation solutions. With over 15 years of both consulting and industry experience, she is a proven leader in a diverse set of business environments specializing in finance and technology transformation, large-scale implementations, application/solution architecture, and finance and accounting automation and process optimization.

Prior to joining RSM, Ana was the vice president of information technology and shared services at a $3 billion global provider of contingent workforce solutions. During her tenure, she led a multi-year IT and finance transformation initiative as well as headed the integration office for North American acquisitions. She also spent six years at a big four firm as a manager in their IT-enabled transformation practice.

Ana has a unique ability to guide organizations through complex change by continuously focusing on the intersection of technology and business operations, ensuring key processes maximize efficiencies of the applications landscape. She has served clients across several industries including staffing/recruitment, retail, consumer products, automotive, telecom, insurance, and financial services.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

Finding RSM – a firm that will let you still be you and nurture your biggest professional dreams – and then being admitted into RSM's partnership last year. Making principal is a professional milestone I will be proud of for the rest of my life and an achievement reflective of so many small achievements and failures learned along the way. It validates that the hard work and sacrifices were worth it.

What advice would you give a professional just beginning a career in consulting?

Recognize you have tons to learn, but that doesn't mean you cannot add value to every interaction. Try to be an "easy button" to those around you – clients, project teams, managers and peers. If you can consistently anticipate and execute something that will make someone else's day just a little bit easier, people will take notice and bring you along, making it easier to further your own development.

I would also say don't worry too much about what group you are in, what project you are on, what industry you're working with, etc. If you are learning, you are growing and developing the craft of consulting. I promise you will be amazed at how often you draw on previous experiences later in your career, even if at the time you didn't recognize the value of the experience. There isn't a "one size fits all path," so enjoy your unique journey in consulting!

What have you loved most about your consulting career?

I love consulting – especially the technology side of consulting – because it constantly evolves and changes. There is always something new to learn, a new challenge to solve, a new solution to brainstorm and build, new clients and colleagues to meet. The creativity and entrepreneurship consulting affords keeps me energized and motivated, which helps me inspire others and creates unique paths for their own growth. Watching your hard work provide opportunities for others is one of the most rewarding pieces of consulting because your growth is only limited by your ability to find the next idea.

What's the best advice—personal or professional—you've ever received?

One of the best pieces of advice I've received is that it doesn't cost extra to be nice. Too often, professional success (especially in consulting and technology) and genuine kindness are represented as mutually exclusive, which I believe is not true. For sustained and long-term success, kindness and authenticity is a requirement.

What does being honored as a Woman Leader in Technology mean to you?

I am beyond humbled (and a little bit in awe) to be recognized not only by Consulting magazine, but by my own firm and leadership to represent RSM. When I think of others who have received Consulting magazine awards, it is hard for me to put myself in the same arena! But I certainly didn't get here alone—I have had the most amazing advocates in my career who helped me to see my potential and coach me each step of the way. This award is particularly special to me because I'm so passionate about women's representation in technology and helping future female leaders recognize their value and the unique perspective they bring. As a female leader, I am thrilled to be able to pay it forward—something that was done for me many times.